The food here is one of the best in terms of Ethiopian food in the very competitive northern…read moreVirginia Ethiopian food scene. There is no shortage of Ethiopian families and couples who come to enjoy a meal here even on weeknights and definitely during Ethiopian holy days. The chef can be seen through a kitchen window preparing the meats. A long bar is in the back half of the restaurant as well as a cafe cum stage. The kitfo (minced beef traditionally raw) is the speciality here, and it really shows. Very friendly and welcoming service . The food here is one of the best in terms of Ethiopian food in the very competitive northern Virginia Ethiopian food scene. There is no shortage of Ethiopian families and couples who come to enjoy a meal here even on weeknights and definitely during Ethiopian holy days. The chef can be seen through a kitchen window preparing the meats. A long bar is in the back half of the restaurant as well as a cafe cum stage. The kitfo (minced beef traditionally raw) is the speciality here, and it really shows. Very friendly and welcoming service .

Amazing food! And servers were very kind and helpful (especially Haben). Will definitely be coming…read moreback!

About a 3-3.5: Nazret Kitfo is located right next to a grocery store; just go up the stairs to your…read moreleft instead of on the right! The menu offers breakfast options, vegetarian dishes, lunch and dinner plates, seafood, kid meals, and beverages. We came here for an early dinner, and we ordered: +the Veggie Combo - with spicy split lentils (misir), yellow peas (kik alecha), collard greens (gomen), cabbage potatoes (atakitat wot), chickpea stew (shiro), and salad; from this, I only liked the misir, as it was spicy and yummy; the others, such as the kik alecha, were undercooked, and some were bland; I wasn't a fan of the sauce, as it had a weird smoky flavor to it +Goden Tibs - marinated short ribs, sauteed with onions and jalapenos; comes bone-in, so just be aware; if you like your meats rare, this protein is it; there some parts that were cooked enough for me, and it had good flavor; however, it seems as if this dish is usually difficult to cook appropriately (as other Ethiopian restaurants) as some parts are well-done and some are super rare We tried both the stateside injera as well as the injera from Ethiopia; one is more sour, while the other is slightly more sweet; I recommend the OG one. The presentation was beautiful and the portions generous - definitely more than enough food for 2 people! Service was super welcoming and friendly. This place seems like a popular spot for locals to come by to grab a meal or a drink. Plenty of parking in the shared strip plaza lot. +Misir +friendly service +parking in shared plaza lot

I love the kitfo there. Not only do they have beef kitfo but they have fish kitfo, if you haven't…read morehad it before, think of it as a spicy taretare. I've been to so many places in the area but the service and the kitfo here are top notch!! Usually I get good food and bad service or vice versa but here I don't have to sacrifice on quality. If you are new to Ethiopian cuisine or had a lot you shouldn't miss there place. I dare say this may be my one stop shop the next time I'm craving Ethiopian.

Promising First Visit, Let Down the Second Time - Wish There is a Negative Rating…read moreDec 2025 * Friends I wish there was negative rating!!! This was my second visit to Enat Kitfo, and unfortunately, it was completely different from my first -- in a very disappointing way. The first time, I happened to be in the neighborhood and searched for an Ethiopian restaurant nearby. I decided to try Enat Kitfo because it was nearby, and I was genuinely impressed. The food was delicious, the service was excellent, and the server was kind and attentive. The owner even came to greet me, checked on my dish while I was eating, and made me feel welcomed. It was such a positive experience that I shared it with others and looked forward to coming back with my family. Because of that great first impression, I drove more than an hour for my second visit, this time with a friend who had just arrived from back home. We came around 6:00 PM, during the Eagles vs. Lions game in the 4th quarter -- it should have been a great evening. Unfortunately, the experience could not have been more different. The waitress was kind but inexperienced and had to ask the owner about everything. When the owner came out, he appeared unwelcoming and dismissive, which was surprising given how well he treated me during my first visit. As an Ethiopian who has lived in the Washington, DC area for a long time, this interaction reminded me of the old Ethiopian restaurant culture of the 1980s and 1990s, when Ethiopian customers were often treated poorly, while customers from other countries were treated as masters -- even though Ethiopia has never been colonized. Thankfully, competition have improved customer service standards over the years, which made this experience especially disappointing. We ordered Cotlet (fish) and Tsom Beyaynetu aka Veggie (Combo). The Cotlet (fish) was delicious, well prepared and enjoyable. However, it arrived without the combo. We waited, assuming the Tsom Beyaynetu (Combo) would follow, but no one checked on us. I eventually went to the bar to ask about it. The owner's response was simply "" (okay), with no concern or apology. When the combo finally arrived, it was delivered as if nothing had gone wrong. While the fish was very good, the Tsom Beyaynetu (Combo) -- which I had truly enjoyed during my first visit -- lacked flavor this time. There were many items on the plate, but none stood out as good. No one came back to check on us, and even ordering drinks required me to go to the bar myself. Overall, the service was extremely poor, worse than many Ethiopian restaurants from decades ago. With so many good Ethiopian dining options available today, I will not be returning. I truly want Ethiopian-owned businesses to succeed and flourish. However, I am accustomed to the American service standard and vote with my wallet. I do not accept neglect or disrespect as a customer. I hope this feedback is taken constructively so future customers are treated better and the business can improve. I wish Enat Kitfo the best, but without meaningful changes in service and consistency, it will be difficult to succeed in today's competitive environment.

One of my favorite Ethiopian restaurants in the area. The food is always really tasty, and the…read morestaff is nice and friendly. I typically get a vegetarian combo and it always tastes delicious. On one visit, the owner stopped by our table and explained how Ethiopian food is typically eaten, which was such a thoughtful touch and really nice to learn. Overall, it's a great spot and one I'm always happy to come back to.

Taste and freshness was superb. I wash they served the meats on top of the enjera as traditionally…read moredone. Makes it easy to make the portions. Sorry to say the Giden Tibs looks good but not eatable. Not able to chew the meat. They can't be charging this price and serve something completely unbeatable. The chef has to go around and learn how long to grill or cook the ribs. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS DISH. SERVING SLCE WAS FANTASTIC. AMBIANCE IS VERY COMFORTABLE AND WELCOMING.

A friend who was visiting from out of town wanted to try Ethiopian food for the first time and…read morereceived a recommendation by one of her mutual friends who is Ethiopian. I've never heard of this restaurant before and is your local hole-in-the-wall place. Be forewarned though, during my experience -- the parking lot was chaotic. I've not driven to this area of NoVA before; this is worse than driving around the Seven Corners intersection. It took me 35 minutes to find parking by circling the lot and is not for the faint of hard, so be prepared. I'm not sure why the parking lot was so packed when we went for dinner though was relieved when I finally got to take a seat inside. I've had Ethiopian food before though compared to the other places I've dined at, presentation wise -- I noticed that the combo plate is served inside dishware instead of directly on the injera itself and served on a large silver platter. Unlike other places, Birndo gives you the option to choose your preference (American vs Ethiopian). I've not been offered a choice at previous Ethiopian restaurants, though enjoyed the fact that two options exist. We opted for both and found that the Ethiopian was more fermented while the American version was milder. I enjoyed the Ethiopian injera, so if you like a more "sour"/fermented bread, go for this option. This is also the first time that I've had raw meat prepared in this way and enjoyed the spices. For a table of four, we opted for the items below and we still had leftovers. All items we ordered were delicious with my favorites including the gored gored and shiro wat. Careful though if you cannot take spice and one of friends found that the gored gored was too spicy. Meanwhile, I thought it was perfect. +Birndo Combo -- clockwise -- gomen bisega (collared greens), kifto (finely chopped ground beef mixed with Ethiopian herbal butter (kibe), cardamom (korerima), spicy chili powder (mitmita), lega tibs (lean beef or lamb diced and cooked in a special mild sauce, Ethiopian herbal butter, onion, tomato and garlic), gored gored (raw cubed beef lightly heated with Ethiopian chili powder (berbere) and Ethiopian herbal butter (kibe) +Shiro Wat (not pictured) -- chickpea stew

I'd heard this was the best Ethiopian restaurant in northern Virginia and it did not disappoint!! I…read morehad such a good experience at Makeda. I ordered the vegetable combination for $24, and for $25 I tried Kitfo (raw meat dish) for the first time, both to share. They were yummy! The Kitfo had a spicy kick to it but even with my low spice tolerance it was not unmanageable. It was my first time trying Fasolia Wot (string beans and carrots) in the veggie combo and it might be my new favorite! It had an unexpected sweet flavor that I can't describe. All in all it was a great meal and I'll be going back for sure.

This spot was recommended by a friend and I vaguely remember…read morevisiting before but it has been some time. We arrived on a Tuesday around 12:30 and quiet. A good size dining area as well Bar and saw an area for Live Entertainment. Modern decor with some interesting artwork. We were fasting so were limited to fish and veggies for lunch. We started with Timatim Firfir. Just the presentation of this appetizer was enough but the combo of the tomatoes, onions, Awaze wrapped in injera was delicious. We also ordered veggie (Lentil) Sambusa which was just right crispy and hit the spot. For main, we ordered the Veggie combo-our favorites were the Misir Wots and Beet Salad. We saw the Tuna Kitfo on the menu and ordered as we had never tried this one. Exquisite dish and a must try. As a lover of the Beef Kitfo, this is a formidable alternative. We finished with Macchiato which was bold and reminded me of the ones I had in Addis. Service was friendly and attentive. They picked up quite a bit by the time we left around 2:30. Will be back to enjoy the rest of the menu. Don't miss the Tuna Kitfo/Timatim Firfir.

They gave me a menu that said "Lunch & Dinner" with the price of Lega Tibs -- $13.99. Then when I…read moregot the bill it was $22 -- I asked why the $8 difference. First she said in it was the price for lunch then she said it was new owners and they hadn't changed the menu. On the bill it didn't even list the name of the item -- just said "Custom Item" so she could charge whatever she wanted. I feel like they just purposely stole money from me thinking I wouldn't say anything.

Just don't bother going in if you're hungry. I was sitting at a table for no less than 15 minutes…read moreand no one so much as offered a glass of water. The vibes alone were creepy. The place is dark and dingy looking. The health department rating alone is a turnoff. I should have researched that before stoping in. Thank you for ignoring the only customer you had seated in the restaurant on a Sunday afternoon. You did me a favor.

I am not Ethiopian but I have visited this restaurant a few times and have heard and been…read morerecommended this restaurant by other Ethiopians who say that the food here is good & it is! I always have a great experience here and enjoy the atmosphere of the restaurant with the big screens to watch sports. This is where I tried tere siga (raw meat) for the first time and had a pleasant experience that I can now say I know how to eat it. I have had their tere siga, goden tibs, kitfo, asa goulash, and regular tibs. All very flavorful and items I would come back to order again. Their coffee is also great and poured out of a jebena like how it is traditionally and should be made. The customers that love this restaurant will not normally go out of their way to write a review, but seeing some of the negative reviews I needed to post one of my own.

Review I ordered…read moregluten-free injera with my vegetable and fish dulet meal and was charged extra for the gluten-free injera. However, they gave me regular injera instead, which I cannot eat. To make matters worse, the vegetables were placed directly on top of the injera. When I called to explain the mistake, the woman I spoke with was extremely rude. She essentially told me, "Too bad, I can't do anything about it," and then hung up on me. I tried calling back several times, but now the phone is simply off the hook. I just wasted $52 on food I cannot eat, and the customer service was completely unacceptable. I would not recommend this restaurant based on this experience.

I went to Eyo with a group of 5 and we were able to get seated immediately on a Saturday night at 7…read morepm. I got the Vegetable Combo and it was so good! I loved how it came with so many different varieties of things to try which were all very tasty

I stumbled on this place accidentally tonight. I was actually looking for a completely different…read moreEthiopian restaurant. But, all things happen for a reason and I'm glad I found this place. The service was amazing. The girls working made sure that my water glass was always full (kind of a pet peeve if they don't) and that I was enjoying my meal. Even when I damn near hacked up a lung because I accidentally inhaled a piece of lamb instead of swallowing it, they ran to my aid to make sure I was good. Top notch! Now to the food-Excellent all around. I had the lamb tibs. The lamb was cooked perfectly-juicy, tender. Lots of great flavor. I highly recommend it. One of the ladies there asked me how I learned to eat with the injera instead of a fork like most white people. Gave me a chance to go down memory lane and talk about my first experiences with their cuisine. Kinda nice! I'll definitely be back!